Plate 84
Havell LXXXI
Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus)
This painting was undoubtedly done during Audubon’s visit to Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey in June 1829. A faint notation, visible only upon close examination of the original, reads: “Begun Friday at 11 o’clock finished Sunday evening.” Audubon wrote in his text, “The largest fish which I have seen this bird take out of the water was a Weak-Fish, such as is represented in the plate, but sufficiently large to weigh more than five pounds. The bird carried it into the air with difficulty.”
Source: The Original Water-Color Paintings by John James Audubon. Copyright 1966 by American Heritage Publishing Co., Inc.
Learn more about this print on the National Audubon Society's website.